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Former teen mom on the brink of graduation hits snag, delaying dreams of helping to prevent teen pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy in Jackson County: Jamie Horning

Jamie Horning of Jackson, left, makes dinner with her daughters Koryanna Beavers, 17, right, and Kayleah Horning, 13, middle, at her home on Tuesday night, April 30, 2013. Horning had Koryanna when she was still a teenager. (J. Scott Park | MLIve.com)
(MLive Media Group)

JACKSON, MI – As a former teen mom at 17, Jackson resident Jamie Horning was forced to put her college education on hold as she began the life of a single teen mom.

Now 17 years later, she is close to earning a bachelor's degree in social work from Spring Arbor University and had plans to graduate this year, the same year her first daughter graduated from high school.

After five years of working 65 hours a week between her job, full-time classes, homework and motherhood, Horning hit a snag that could jeopardize her educational goals -- she maxed out financial aid and needs $3,100 to pay for her internship at the Angel House in Mason, where she works with pregnant teens.

"I want to be the success story and give back .. .this is truly my passion," Horning said.

After learning of the problem, one of Horning's friends created an online donation page for her. At first Horning was hesitant, but after talking to her family she became open to the idea.

"I'm right at the end, all my classes are finished and I've come too far," she said.

Horning was unaware her internship would be extended to the fall semester and said it was a "huge blow" when she found out; she knew it would require more money.

She did receive a $500 federal Pell grant, which brought the amount to $3,100. Horning said the university is allowing her to pay the bill in payments, but she cannot afford the requested $575 a month. She is already "burned out" and cannot imagine having to take on another job to make the payments.

For Horning, the issue of teen pregnancy goes back much further than her story. Horning's mother and grandmother also had children as teens, and Horning did everything in her power to make sure her daughters did not repeat the cycle.

"Three generations of teen pregnancy has been broken," Horning said proudly of her family.